Mistakenly Treated The Princess As A Concubine - Chapter 93

After returning to Yunjing City, Wen Zhuojin first went to the Marquis’s residence.

Everyone in the Marquis’s residence was as joyous as if it were the New Year, their faces beaming with smiles. They spoke to Wen Zhuojin in a tone even gentler than when her uncle was around, with a hint of subtle flattery.

Everyone was extremely happy about Wen Zhuojin’s upcoming participation in the palace selection.

The Marquis’s wife smiled on the surface, but her heart was complex. It turned out that Wen Zhuojin had not chosen the Prince of Anqing’s son because she had a better option.

Wen Heming called Wen Zhuojin aside for a private conversation, giving her some advice and reminiscing about their father-daughter relationship.

As a mid-tier noble family in Yunjing City, the once-declining Jing’an Marquis’s residence now faced an extraordinary event. This was undoubtedly a great joy, signaling that the Marquis’s residence was about to rise, potentially surpassing the glory of their ancestors.

“The palace has sent a matron. You should prepare well these days and learn more etiquette. Entering the palace is a good thing, but you must act cautiously and avoid any mistakes. If anything happens, send someone to inform me.” Wen Heming said with a kind smile, embodying the image of a good father.

“Thank you, Father. Father, your daughter is about to enter the palace for the selection, but I still lack proper attire and jewelry. I heard our Marquis’s residence has a set of gold and jade jewelry passed down from our ancestors. Could I borrow it? Also, the palace requires more silver for tips. I’ve spent most of my silver on incense materials and don’t have much left. I wonder if Father could give me some silver…” Wen Zhuojin blinked, her expression pitiful.

Seeing everyone so happy, Wen Zhuojin herself was not pleased and could only ask for more silver to comfort herself.

With more silver, she might be able to bribe her way around the palace to ensure her elimination.

She could also expand her guard and venture into business in Southern Chu, or secretly fund rebel forces…

In short, silver was a good thing. With silver, she would have a sense of security and could soon see her beloved sister.

Wen Heming’s paternal heart, cultivated over time, nearly shattered upon hearing Wen Zhuojin’s words.

He had already seen that this daughter of his was perhaps too fond of money.

But given the current situation, if his daughter became a palace consort with the support of Tianxuan Palace, she might even become the empress in the future. That would be extraordinary.

“A Zhuo is right. I will prepare it for you.” Wen Heming said, his expression stiffening for a moment before returning to normal as he smiled at Wen Zhuojin.

Wen Zhuojin immediately expressed her gratitude.

Although the Marquis’s residence had some savings, after several rounds of “plundering” by Wen Zhuojin, not much was left unless they waited for the shops and estates to submit their accounts.

Wen Zhuojin didn’t mind much; she would take what she could get.

Wen Zhuojin spent less than an hour at the Marquis’s residence, only greeting the matron sent from the palace before leaving.

Wen Heming wanted to say something but couldn’t control Wen Zhuojin.

When Wen Zhuojin went to check the accounts at her shops, Wu Yuanheng came to see her.

Compared to the jubilant people at the Marquis’s residence, Wu Yuanheng was deeply worried.

“A Zhuo, what I said before has come true. What are you planning to do now? Are you going to enter the palace?” Wu Yuanheng asked Wen Zhuojin.

“I’ll just go through the motions. You know I’m already married; how can I become a palace consort?” Wen Zhuojin replied.

“But this isn’t something you can decide. If Tianxuan Palace wants you to become a consort and you don’t meet their expectations, there could be trouble later. We need to think of a foolproof plan.” Wu Yuanheng said.

“Cousin, there’s something I need to tell you.” Wen Zhuojin said after a moment of thought, revealing Tianxuan Palace’s intentions for her to enter the palace.

“Cousin, my situation is complicated, and I could face the danger of my family being wiped out at any moment. This time, I plan to tell the Emperor about Tianxuan Palace’s plans and use his hand to deal with them, hoping to find a way to escape. If the Emperor insists on forcing me to become his consort, I would rather die.” Wen Zhuojin said, looking at Wu Yuanheng.

Wu Yuanheng was shocked, not expecting Wen Zhuojin to have such a plan.

“A Zhuo, this is too dangerous. Why don’t you leave Yunjing City immediately, the farther the better? I’ll handle the rest.” Wu Yuanheng suggested after some thought.

“Cousin, we haven’t even tried yet; how do we know it will fail? If I leave now, I’ll likely be pursued and will definitely implicate you and my uncles. I’m telling you this so you can be prepared. If anything happens, cut ties with me immediately and protect my uncles, aunts, and cousins. Don’t let them be implicated. If it comes to the worst, flee south. I’ve opened shops in the capital of Southern Chu. Of course, that’s the last resort. For now, I still have a chance.” Wen Zhuojin said, smiling at Wu Yuanheng.

If she could continue living in Yunjing City, Wen Zhuojin would naturally prefer to stay.

Tianxuan Palace and the Emperor were at odds. Helping the Emperor eliminate Tianxuan Palace and leveraging her silver and incense formulas related to horses, she might be able to negotiate her way out.

If the Emperor still insisted on making her his consort, she would have no choice but to flee.

Wu Yuanheng looked at Wen Zhuojin, feeling that her eyes were clear and resolute, more dignified than any so-called pillar of the state he had dealt with.

“Cousin, let’s try not to meet these days. If anything happens, I’ll send a message to you through the usual shop.” Wen Zhuojin said finally to Wu Yuanheng.

“Alright.” Wu Yuanheng agreed without further ado.

“By the way, there’s something I want to ask you. You redeemed many people from the Jiaofangsi. Did you ever redeem a woman named Liu Suniang? She’s the wife of Chu Haoting, the Hanlin scholar.” Wu Yuanheng asked as he was about to leave.

“Hmm?” Wen Zhuojin’s eyebrows twitched upon hearing Wu Yuanheng’s words.

Wu Yuanheng repeated his question.

“Why are you asking this, cousin?” Wen Zhuojin paused, confirming Wu Yuanheng’s question. She had a bad feeling.

Had that Hanlin scholar returned to look for her?

“It’s like this. Recently, the Emperor pardoned some exiled scholars, including Chu Haoting. After returning to Yunjing City, he’s been searching everywhere for his wife. They were deeply in love, and even though he was exiled, he never forgot her.” Wu Yuanheng explained.

Wen Zhuojin’s fingers tightened slightly upon hearing this.

She had always wanted to meet this Hanlin scholar and give him a beating.

Only later did she learn that the incense poison and shackles on her beloved sister were placed by Jiangxiao.

It had nothing to do with that Hanlin scholar.

Jiangxiao’s people were able to find the Xiangxiang Pavilion and, through Luan Niang, track her down and capture her, all because of her beloved sister’s identity.

Her beloved sister had never denied this identity.

But…

If her beloved sister was Liu Suniang, why was she still a virgin after years of marriage?

Did that Hanlin scholar have some hidden ailment, making him just a figurehead?

Perhaps Tianxuan Palace wasn’t looking for Liu Suniang, but the blind woman with iron chains she had redeemed?

Or perhaps this Hanlin scholar just wanted to lure out the person who redeemed her beloved sister to capture her?

In any case, Wen Zhuojin naturally couldn’t admit to anything.

“Cousin, I don’t remember redeeming such a person. Tell him to check with the authorities. He can also draw a portrait of his wife, and I’ll see if it rings any bells.” Wen Zhuojin said after some thought.

“Alright, I’ll tell him.” Wu Yuanheng nodded.

After Wu Yuanheng left, Wen Zhuojin paced around the room a few times before stopping and slapping the table.

No matter who her beloved sister was, she was already hers. No one could take her away!

Only she knew her beloved sister’s whereabouts.

Once this matter was settled, regardless of success or failure, she would find a way to leave and find her.

Wen Zhuojin calmed herself, handled the shop affairs, and took her identity token to a bank opened by Tianxuan Palace to withdraw silver.

As long as she could withdraw silver using her disciple token, she wouldn’t miss the opportunity.

In the afternoon, Wen Zhuojin went to the Taipu Temple.

Both Yan Qi and Tianxuan Palace were very interested in the development of horse incense, and Wen Zhuojin wanted to focus more on this research.

Besides studying divine incense, she had also researched incense that could affect Qiang horses. Naturally, she had to go to the Taipu Temple, which managed horses, to test it out.

With only two days left before entering the palace, while other selected women were at home meticulously preparing and learning palace etiquette, Wen Zhuojin was the opposite, frequently going out.

Many eyes in Yunjing City were watching Wen Zhuojin, but she paid no heed.

She had to keep busy; otherwise, she would think of her beloved sister and feel restless.

Later, Wen Zhuojin was busy, and no more messages came from Wu Yuanheng. Wen Zhuojin couldn’t spare the time to send him a message either.

She would have to wait until after the selection.

Soon, the day of the selection arrived. Before dawn, Wen Zhuojin had already washed and dressed, taking a carriage to the palace gate. She got off the carriage and was led by eunuchs to begin the process.

Before this, Wen Zhuojin had already inquired about the selection process. Those who could enter the palace had passed the initial screening and were recorded.

As Wen Zhuojin followed the eunuchs into the palace, she encountered several familiar faces.

They were regular customers at her shop, and a few were girls she had played polo with, including County Princess Yunshu.

County Princess Yunshu greeted Wen Zhuojin warmly upon seeing her.

Looking at the innocent and lively County Princess Yunshu, Wen Zhuojin felt complex emotions.

This hastily organized selection had brought in noble daughters from official families. Just from what Wen Zhuojin saw, there were over a dozen.

This Emperor, with his empty treasury, still wanted to bring so many women into the palace as consorts!

This further worsened Wen Zhuojin’s impression of the Emperor.

The first round in the palace involved various physical examinations.

Appearance, figure, voice, etc., all had to meet the requirements, followed by a detailed physical examination.

Wen Zhuojin waited in line and soon it was her turn for the physical examination.

According to what Wen Zhuojin had heard, the physical examination would check for scars, disabilities, and whether she was a virgin.

So, during the examination, she would be naked.

Wen Zhuojin felt uncomfortable with this examination, but it was part of the process, so she had to brace herself and go in.

However, once inside, no one asked Wen Zhuojin to undress.

A stern and dignified matron approached Wen Zhuojin.

“Miss Wen, I have received orders from the Dowager Consort Li not to examine you. Please wait here for a while, and then you can leave.”

The matron bowed to Wen Zhuojin and whispered.

“…Thank you, matron.” Wen Zhuojin said, momentarily stunned, not expecting to hear such words.

The Dowager Consort mentioned by the matron was someone she didn’t know and hadn’t bribed.

Was this person showing her goodwill, or was she acting on someone’s orders?

Wen Zhuojin had thought that if she underwent the examination, she could use it as a reason to make the Emperor dislike her.

But now, she wasn’t being examined.

“Can the results be written as I say?” Wen Zhuojin asked after some thought.

“Miss Wen’s skin is flawless, perfect.” the matron said.

“No, no, that’s not what I mean. I mean, can you write the opposite?” Wen Zhuojin said.

If the matron wrote that she was perfect, that would be troublesome.

Was this helping her or harming her?

“Miss Wen, don’t worry. The Dowager Consort has already made arrangements.” the matron said.

“What do you mean?” Wen Zhuojin asked, puzzled.

“The Dowager Consort means that she will follow your wishes and ensure you are not selected. You can rest assured.” the matron explained.

Wen Zhuojin’s eyes widened. Such good fortune?

Who was this Dowager Consort, and why was she helping her so much?!!